NOT COOKING WITH GAS

 TUESDAY - Finally used the pizza oven made the pizza dough from scratch was a lot of prep like always  preparation is everything .You need to be ready with the pizza at the right time to cook it perfect it is an art form and like anything you learn from your mistakes but saying that it is not impossible to get a very tasty pizza on the first run .

Keep the fire box constantly burning it does not take long for the pellets to burn away the the temperature then drops pretty quick once there is no fuel it does not take long for a tinder box of pellets  to burn away so keep adding more pellets .Another tip make sure everything is to hand the blow torch , tongs , pellets and your toppings tomato and cheese and digital thermometer .Once the flames are peaking through the chimney throw in the pizza keep rotating the pie  and be careful not to burn it from uncooked to black in a blink of an eye obviously you don't want  no black crust .and be mindful flour get everywhere just live with it its not the end of the world having a thin film of flour dust everywhere where you are making pizza .it is stressful the pressure is on but it is fun and get it right which you will the end result is worth it .Leave the cleaning to the following day its outdoors anyway .

BARBIE NO2 2026

 SATURDAY - Ten hours in Huddersfield A&E not what we envisaged for the first day of my time off ,Got out just before ten Helen had a ecg , and cat scan plus bloods and other tests she was let home on the way home bought a pizza to cook in our regular oven ,The pizza oven was delivered along with a bag of pellets , blow torch and digital thermometer  my coffee Mokka pot also and 5 x xxl black fruit of the loom T-shirts .Will open the George Foreman Pizza oven tomorrow .

SUNDAY - At Helens parents doing some gardening it is another red hot day and little fun was had toiling away pulling weeds put we did it was that hot I even said yes to a can of cold Spanish lager.

MONDAY - Had a barbie the second one of 2026  we had sausages , burgers and butter and garlic chicken breast and skewers and jacket potatoes washed down with some mango cider .When the food is on the grill it never looks enough but the reality is there is also way too much '

PIZZA TIME

 SUNDAY - Went to Hampson's garden centre  bought some more flowers for the hanging baskets I got some rum and raisin fudge .We drove to Canon Hall somewhere we have not been for ages bought a stone planter a metal rustic poppy head and a few more plants cant have enough plants .Cooked a wagyu steak for tea with chunky chips and stemmed broccoli the steak was from Aldi was one of the best steaks I have had in a long time .

MONDAY - Took the cover off the patio furniture mid afternoon I had washed and cleaned the car and was sat in the sun just a few hours before leaving to go to work .On the way back home in the early hours of the morning it was raining .Helen had covered the furniture back over .I break up this Saturday for two week annual leave . 

FRIDAY - Ordered a George Foreman pizza oven , a slatted table a blow torch and a digital laser thermometer and some wood pellets just so we can cook a few pizzas in the garden hopefully weather permitting .Work is a total shit show so glad i am off for the next sixteen days .This afternoon was the hottest weather we have had this year in the sun was out in all its glory .

THE BEST

 SATURDAY - Thinking of buying a mod out iPod classic I have a 160gb classic already but what it cost to mod it its as cheap getting one already done costing around  £199 .I want one with a see through clear case black scroll wheel and aluminium back case , will also get a leather case and some decent wired iem's. 

Went to the old St Mary's chapel near Towton a big battle of the roses occurred in 1461  it lasted for ten hours 50000 men showed up and  between 3000 to 4000 lost their lives , and  the near by stream rang red with blood .The Church was already there some of the soldiers took refuge there the night before the battle commenced .Hopefully all saw the following day .

From there we went to Woodbank garden centre which took ages to get there was ok .We finished off buy going to Murgatroyd's at Yeadon  for fish and chips it has been years since we was there last .I am not giving them a bad review as it was all ok but being honest we both agreed we both think that that Wetherby Whaler are better based on the batter ,chips and for me the curry sauce 9.25/10 saying that Murgatroyd's are still a good 8.75/10 the only fish shop I rate higher is the Magpie at Whitby we will be going there week after next hopefully weather permitting .I break up next Friday for 16 days they will be no work .

  

IT LIVES

 THURSDAY - Planted the fern £199 quid's worth of plant in the ground growing in the garden  hopefully it lives long and grows stronger year after year . Went to pick the duvet up from the cleaners all washed and dry and looking good as new .Drove down to Hampson's garden centre Helen spent £160 on plants and meatal hanging basket plus liner .I bought four pork pirs some salted caramel fudge and a slice of cherry pie .That's tea sorted tonight .On the way back home we stopped at the local garden centre Totties Helen bought a metal sunflower plaque and I bought to resin head planters for the back garden  £60 for both . 

FRIDAY - Went to Home Bragins we bought some xxl wash gel and fabric conditioner and a load of different bird foods got the dogs some treats and the cat a giant bag of dreamies . 

Took Helen for her nail appointment I went to the farm shop and bought a freshly cooked beef brisket sandwich which I shared with the dogs ,Picked Helen up went to Aldi .Put the sunflower ornament on the gardens back fence looks o,k , 

MONEY GOES

 Sunday – Helen put all her items away it was half past four the weekender event was finished.

We went to the Sovereign Inn for another Sunday dinner Helen had the turkey I had the trio as I always do, we had a side of pigs in blankets and cauliflower cheese with drinks the bill was over sixty pounds. We went home and chilled the rest of the evening.

MONDAY – Went to Gordon Rigg Garden centre it’s just over an hour’s drive every time we go the sat nav takes us a different route, Helen was keen to buy an Australian fern tree this is going to be  the most expensive thing growing  in the garden at £199 hopefully it survives the British winter's we get at Hade Edge ,  she also bought trays of flowers for the three hanging baskets in the rear garden along with three liners also for the hanging baskets an expensive morning shop. I had to lay the fern down in the boot with the rear seats down it just went in.

TUESDAY – Monki pooed on our bed to make it worse she had the runs this happened when I was at work she sits on my clothes at the side of the bed whilst I am gone I scolded her first time ever nothing too harsh she knew I was annoyed I raised my voice it startled her I think   it was more upsetting for me .The bedding came off and  went into our washing machine we bagged the 13.5 tog duvet in an Ikea bag for washing to a local laundry establishment at a cost of £34 we can’t pick it up until Thursday afternoon. both dogs went to the groomers £90 , we went to Dunhlem bought a 10.5 tog king size duvet at a cost of  £75we decided on a  lesser tog rating for the summer months but to be honest its nowhere near summer at the moment .

Went to McDonalds for double sausage egg muffins with egg and cheese, hash browns a fresh orange for Helen and a caramel frappe for me £18 today is getting as expensive as yesterday.

A VERY SPIRITUAL WEEKEND

 SATURDAY - Helen was at the Masonic Hall in Huddersfield she had a table and was  doing readings form the morning to late afternoon it was her first ever event she was a little  nervous to start with but her nerves didn't last long I helped her set up her table and put her banners in place . There must have been over forty different vendors and half a dozen Psychic and Tarot readers .Everyone had good vibes and a few of us  finished the day all getting fish and chips eating them in the bar area before all  attending a performance of  two spiritualist mediums that were doing a psychic stand up  Adrian Clarke and Vicky Newton I had only three hours sleep I was nodding off I was too relaxed sorry guy's .

SUNDAY - Back ay the Masonic Hall for another fun day we did not have to get there early as we did have to do ant setting up .I went home midday to check on the dogs and get some shopping in .

Bought a book by Liam Browne "Dealer to Healer" he has been on Dragons Den getting three of the dragons to invest in his cacao business , he signed the book for me a truly great man .